Tuesday, October 15, 2013

1943 - CRAZY HOUSE, from the guys that brought you Hellzapoppin'

Olsen and Johnson are back in another comedy for Universal Pictures. Edward Cline who had directed W. C. Fields was in charge this time. The results are disappointing.

For whatever reason the anarchaic spirit of Hellazpoppin' seems to be lost this time. Olsen and Johnson are still up for any type of gag they can think of but their timing seems way off. The film is also overloaded with musical numbers and singers, from Alan Jones to Count Basie. There is also an extremely overbearing performer called Cass Daley who is featured in some very stupid specialty numbers

This Olsen and Johnson production actually has some sort of plot. Having been kicked out of Universal Studios they set up a film at Miracle Pictures (If it's a good picture it's a Miracle). The chance to take some major shots at Hollywood never materializes, the musical numbers just keep coming and coming and coming.

The film does have a few decent moments which come mostly at the end when they are previewing their picture for an audience. Only in these scenes do Olsen and Johnson get to show their madcap vaudeville stuff. Olsen and Johnson were comedians who appeared to work best without the structure of a formal script.